The President said "I am encouraging the holding of a dialog but it must be done on the basis of three fundamental pillars."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government was always ready to hold dialog with all components in the framework of seeking solutions to the problems and improving the welfare of the people of Papua`s two provinces.

"The possibility of dialog between the central government and the people in Papua is wide open. We must hold a dialog, an open dialog to find the best solutions and options to Papua`s problems," he said at the opening of a cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.

The President said "I am encouraging the holding of a dialog but it must be done on the basis of three fundamental pillars."

He said the government would always refer to the three pillars in determining policies and working programs for Papua.

The first pillar. he said, was the Unitary State of Indonesia while the second one was special autonomy for Papua and West Papua and the third acceleration of development in Papua and West Papua as a national priority.

"In view of that I have asked coordinating ministers and other ministers concerned and the head of UP4B (unit for acceleration of development for Papua and West Papua) to keep conducting consultation and communication with the Papuan regional government and the people in Papua and, if necessary, to go there to understand the core of the problems and see the real situation there and find the solutions," he said.

He said there is a great difference between receiving reports in Jakarta on conditions or events in Papua and going there to observe conditions on the ground. As regards this limited cabinet meeting will discuss whatever you have done to assure that all agenda and programs are carried out well and political, security, legal, economic and people`s welfare programs are handled well," he said.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Boediono, all coordinating ministers, a number of ministers concerned, the commander of the defense forces, the national police chief, the attorney general, the chief of the State Intelligence Agency and the head of UP4B.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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